Requirements

1. A computer running macOS or Windows
2. Internet connection
3. Apple ID (email & password)
4. If you are on iOS 16, you may need to enable Developer Mode. (Settings > Privacy & Security > Developer Mode)

AltStore

• Download and install AltServer from here

• Right-click on the AltServer icon with your phone connected and choose "Install AltStore", then the name of your phone. When prompted sign in with your Apple ID. Two-factor Authentication is supported, but app-specific passwords are not.

• Make sure no other WhatsApp with the same bundle identifier is installed. (net.whatsapp.WhatsApp if you chose the original IPA or com.fouadraheb.watusi for the duplicate)

• If you have AltStore Beta, you can add our AltStore source (https://source.fouadraheb.com) and download apps directly from AltStore.

• If you don't have access to AltStore sources, download the IPA file from the link above and copy it to your phone, using iCloud Drive, AirDrop, or any other method. Open AltStore and navigate to the "My Apps" tab. Choose the plus in the top right corner and open the IPA file. When prompted sign in with your Apple ID. Two-factor Authentication is supported, but app-specific passwords are not.

Since WhatsApp added the option to link a device on mobile, you can now use the original WhatsApp from the AppStore and install Watusi IPA as a duplicate and link your original WhatsApp to it.

• Install and activate original WhatsApp from the AppStore
• Download and install duplicated Watusi IPA from the table above.
• We need to enable Watusi's Local Notifications feature on your duplicate to keep the app active while linking.
  • Open duplicated Watusi, from the welcome screen, tap 3 times on the animated image and select Watusi preferences, go to the Notifications section and activate Enable Local Notifications, and set it to Audio (If Audio doesn't work, try Location instead).
• Move back to the welcome screen, tap Agree and Continue, and click on Link this device to get the QR Code. Screenshot this code and send it to another device. (Keep Watusi open in background)
• Switch to your original WhatsApp
  • Go to Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device
  • Scan the QR code from your other device and wait for it to link and load your chats. The QR code is only valid for less than a minute.
• Disable Enable Local Notifications feature from your duplicated app Watusi settings. Keeping it enabled is known to cause a logout and will require linking again.

You will now receive notifications from your original WhatsApp and use the duplicated app with Watusi and other tweaks.

Tips:

• You can remove the original WhatsApp from your home screen so you only use the duplicated app.
• You can create automation from the Shortcuts app to have your duplicated app open automatically when opening the original WhatsApp (especially from notifications).
• Turn off the notifications for the duplicated app from iOS notifications settings so you don't receive notifications when the duplicate is in the background.
• Make sure to open the original WhatsApp from time to time to keep chats in sync and backed up to iCloud.

Note: if you are using a duplicate as linked-device, you don't need to do this method as the chats will be sycned from main WhatsApp.

Chats cannot be restored from iCloud to Sideloaded Watusi. However, you can manually back up and restore your chats in case you need to delete and reinstall the app.

The currently installed app must have the "Document Browser" feature enabled to access its data from the Files app. (All Watusi IPAs have this option enabled by default)

1. Open the Files app and go to the WhatsApp folder.
2. Select all items and copy them.
3. Go back, create a new folder, and paste what you copied earlier.
4. Delete WhatsApp from your device.
5. Install the latest version of Watusi IPA, open it once, then close it from the background.
6. Return to the Files app, go to the backup folder you created earlier, and copy all items.
7. Go back to the WhatsApp folder, delete everything inside, then paste what you copied earlier.
8. Open WhatsApp and complete the registration process. Your chats should now be restored.